The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-01-20
They Saved the Fiddler.

Rochester Democrat.
William f. Young, known far and
wide as "Billy," is resident OF Angeli-
ca. He Is the leader OF a fine orches-
ira, and, being OF very jovial tenn
permanent, has become well known and
popular throughout Western New
York. "Billy" entered the army in
the late civil war as member OF the
Eighty-fith New York Volunteers, and
was in several hot engagements. In
one of them he came very near losing
his life, and attributes his escaping
death at that time to his fondness for
the violin. His thrilling experience,
as related to reporter the other day,
is as follows:
"When l went into the army / took
my violin with me to cheer up my spir-
its and those OF the boys, you know.
1t was at the battle Of Fair Oaks, May
81, 1869. had been detailed to as
sist Surgeon Smith, who is now health
officer OF the port OF New York, in
caring for the wounded. The battle
had been raging fiercely for some time,
and | was sent to the lear after a
stretcher. Just as | was STOPPING to
pick it up with the balls flying thickly
about me, shot struck me in the up
per part of my hip. was Frustrated
by the shock and for some time L was
paralyzed so that could not move
] do not know how long had beer
lying there when 1 began to realize
that general retreat had set in with
our forces. The instinct ofself-preser'
walton inspired me to attempt to join
the column, and upon trying to move
] found that could do so, though it
caused me excruciating pain. | could
not regain my feet; / just rolled over
and over, part OF the time crawling,
and thus, with shot and shell striking
the ground all around me, made my
way over the forms OF dead and dying
comrades to the woods. 1t was alter
rible experience. Now and then apoor
fellow would say to me as | slowly
passed him: Billy, wish Icould join
you; remember me to the folks at
home When reached the woods j
braced myself up against tree. The
retreat had become almost panic;
the wounded and dying were being lett
upon the field; every one seemed bent
only on saving his own life.
81 had been sitting against that tree
for some time. when Captain Cart
right, with lieutenant Duffy, shot in
the forehead, leaning upon his arm,
came along. The Lieutenant was so
exhausted that he told the captain he
could 20 no further, and dropped
down beside me. Captain Cartright
babe us good bye and hurried on.
The next few minutes were very trying
ones; we sat there silently looking at
each other, while on every hand the
soldiers were hurrying by. The Lieu
tenant finally broke the silence with
the remark: "Billy, it's hard to
sit here and see each other die"
This seemed to nerve me to attempt
to escape, and telling the Lieu
tenant that / didn't know whether
should reach place OF safety or
not, lbade him good-by and commenc-
edmy rolling and crawling again. l came
to steep embankment that | don't
think 1T would have been possible Tor
me to get up and was about to lie
down and wait for death, when heard
some one at the top say: Joe, here's
Billy, our fiddler; we mnsn't leave him
to die, and to my great JOY they
came to my rescue and assisted me
to place oil safety.
"For many days lay in the hos
pital at the point OF death. The St
geons probed for the ball in my hip,
but could not extract it. In six
months and twenty days from the
time / was shot the ball was taken
out and proved to be n Belgian bul-
let weighing one ounce and nine drains.
Feel OF my hip and see what a cavity
is there. You can lay yoc- three fin
gers in it." 49,
Ibid Lieutenant Duffy survive2"
asked the reporter.
mo; they found the poor fellow full
OF bayonet wounds the next morning,
and would have met his fate had l
remained by that tree, as one oil the
rebel regiments wore the skull and
cross. bones in their hats and after
the battle went about bayoneting the
wounded"
Mr.. Young seems hale and hearty
and good Tor many years yet.